Good Heavy Original Italian Infantry Papal Army Helmet Cabasset c.1570 From The Papal Armoury, As Used By The Cannoneers of the Papal Artillery. Originally Sourced From The Papal Armoury, in The Vatican, by Fentons of London in 1919

Good Heavy Italian Infantry Helmet Cabasset c.1570, hammered steel raised from a single plate, medial ridge with pear stalk finial, border retains its original brass rosettes (2 missing) each embossed with a ring of 6 stars, stepped flared brim with turned over edge, retaining original linen lining band inside. 19cms tall. Excellent condition.

Provenance, originally from The Papal Armoury at the Vatican and subsequently acquired by London antique arms dealers Fenton & Sons Ltd.

Fenton and Sons, Antique Arms and Armour, traded in London from 1894-1927. and supplied, amongst others, the British Museum. Interesting aside, we used to supply them with antique armour, in the 1920's until 1927 when they closed down.

This and a few others were acquired by Fentons in 1919 and were listed in their catalogue. They were all from the Papal Armoury in Rome made for the Barberini family.

The Barberinis supplied the armour and cabassets for the Papal Army in the late 16th century, a period fraught with anarchy and bandits and direct attacks on papal territories by Parma.
The close association led to Maffeo Barberini becoming Pope Urban VIII. His brother Taddeo was made Supreme Commander of the Papal Army. The helmets, including this one, were from the papal armoury and served through the papal wars. It is estimated that about 4500 men served the Papal Army and most would have worn these cabassets, making the original number of the group well over 4000. Other cabassets from the group are now in the Musio Storico Vaticano the Old Papal armoury now in the Vatican Historical Museum in the Lateran Palace, Rome.

The Papal Army was the loosely-construed army of volunteers and mercenaries in the service of the Italian Papal States, active from the 8th century until the capture of Rome by Italy in 1870. The Papal States maintained a sizeable military during the Middle Ages, using it to fight against the Holy Roman Empire and its Ghibelline allies.
During the 1300s, the Papal States began to employ the services of condottieri, mercenaries who sold their services to the extremely wealthy Catholic Church. These forces would be instrumental to the defence of the Pope during the Italian Wars of the 15th and 16th centuries, with Cesare Borgia leading the Papal Army on a campaign of conquest that added several new city-states and regions to the Papal States' territories. Painting in the gallery of the Massacre of San Bartolome in the Catholic-Protestant Religious Wars, where the French crown aided by Queen Catherine de Medici, mother of the French King, with the Pope's blessing, slaughtered ten of thousands of Huguenots what is considered the second deadliest religious war in European history (surpassed only by the Thirty Years' War, which took eight million European lives) The pope was so delighted with the massacre he ordered a Te Deum to be sung as a special thanksgiving (a practice continued for many years after) and had a medal struck with the motto Ugonottorum strages, (Latin: " slaughter of the Huguenots 1572"  read more

Code: 23583

A Most Impressive Original 16th -17th Century Nuremberg 'Black and White' Comb Morion Helmet, The Very Same Form of Helmet As Was Made Famous by the Spanish Conquistador’s in Their Conquest of Central America

The depiction of conquistadors with high comb morions is widespread, ranging from
international movies, such as ‘Captain from Castille’ (1947) with Tyrone Power or ‘Aguirre,
The Wrath of God’ (1972) with Klaus Kinski, to the current Lego ‘Conquistador’ series. Peaked
morions are particularly prominent in the later, 1594, illustrations of Theodore de Bry.

A most similar morion, was in the great historical collection of arms armour from the armoury of, in Zleby Castle. which contained some Nuremberg 'black and white' morion helmets such as this. Morion is a type of open helmet used from the middle 16th to early 17th centuries, such as by the Munich Town Guard, usually having a flat brim and a crest from front to back. Its introduction was contemporaneous with the exploration of North, Central, and South America. Explorers like Hernando de Soto and Coronado may have supplied them to their foot soldiers in the 1540s. The iconic morion, though popularly identified with early Spanish explorers and conquistadors, was not in use as early as the conquest of Mexico by Hernan Cortez or Francisco Pizarro's conquest of the Incas in South America. Thirty to forty years later, it was widely used by the Spanish, but also common among foot soldiers of many European nationalities, including the English; the first English morions were issued during the reign of Edward VI. The crest or comb on the top of the helmet was designed to strengthen it. Later versions also had cheek guards and even removable faceplates to protect the soldier from sword cuts.

The morion's shape is derived from that of an older helmet, the Chapel de Fer, or "Kettle Hat." Other sources suggest it was based on Moorish armor and its name is derived from Moro, the Spanish word for Moor. The New Oxford American Dictionary, however, derives it from Spanish morrion, from morro 'round object'. The Dictionary of the Spanish Language published by the Royal Spanish Academy indicates that the Spanish term for the helmet, morrion, derives from the noun morra, which means "the upper part of the head". A somewhat similar example is in the Metropolitan Museum in New York accession number 14.25.508

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery  read more

Code: 26213

An Incredibly Rare Samurai Nanban-Do Gusoku {Southern Barbarian Steel} Armour 16th-17th Century Cuirass Dou {Body Armour} Made From The Cuirass of a 1530's Spanish or Portuguese 'Black Ship' Trader. The First Europeans To Arrive in Japan

Another really rare museum piece from the collection of likely the world's greatest authority, and author on Japanese polearms & their use in combat.

A superb, really rare and valuable, piece of early, original, samurai armour, created from the earliest armour worn by the first European visitors to Japan, that arrived in the 'Black Ships', as depicted in the fabulous historical novel {and films} 'Shogun' by James Clavell.

Such armour, was, and is, very rare indeed, it is incredibly sought after, and can be valued ten to twenty times the price that traditional, old, original samurai domestic armour.

An armour cuirass or dou {in Japanese} that is fitted with a complete sashimono mounting system, and, an incredible two sections of early engraved script, of thirty five kanji, in seven rows, and one section on the front right is highlighted in gold lacquer colour.

We sent a scan to our dear friend in Japan and requested assistance in order to translate it, and, we received a very kind, and prompt, reply. He believes it’s an ancient form of kanji thus difficult to read {unless one has been taught specifically how to, one conjectures} but, it is some kind of divine text to ask assistance from the gods to embolden the samurai’s strength, alongside additional divine power requested from those same gods.

Jesting aside, we have never seen its like before.

Sashimono Mounting System Components;
The banner was held in place by a specialized, two-part system attached to the back of the armour's main chest piece, the dō (dou):The ukezutsu (socket) is a tube, often square-shaped, that held the bottom of the banner pole. This was typically located at the lower rear of the cuirass.

Called a gattari (bracket) is a metal fixture situated at shoulder level on the back of the dō, often hinged, designed to secure the pole in an upright position, and fold back down when not in use holding the sashimono


European armour was brought into Japan through trade with Spain and Portugal in the 16th century. Later the Japanese would adapt them and imitate them and began producing them in Japan, which were collectively called Nanban Dogusoku (Nanban Armour). The yoroi armour we show in photo 9 in the gallery, was given to Sakakibara Yasumasa by Tokugawa Ieyasu right before the Battle of Sekigahara (1600) and has since been handed down to the Sakakibara family. That suit nanban armour would be priceless, but similar suits of nanban armour, of the same period, but without the history that the Sakakibara gosuko armour has, are valued up to 100K today or even more. with that photo is a Japanese print showing how the sashimono flag was mounted upon the samurai do cuirass armour.
Tokugawa Ieyasu also wore a nanban armour at the battle of sekigahara. Ieyasu's armour is composed of an Italian peascod cuirass {dou} from circa 1580, a gorget fitted over the cuirass as a "manchira" (derived from the Spanish term 'mantilla', i.e., "mantle" or "cloak"), and a helmet of the Spanish cabasset type

The story of the traders is beautifully conveyed in the novel Shogun James Clavell. William Adams was the principle character, based on the first English real life 17th century navigator adventurer who traveled to Japan, depicted in James Clavell's epic masterpiece "Shogun". Sadly for him, he was never again allowed to leave Japan and return to his family in England.

It is a wonderful and historical part of rare samurai plate armour. English navigator, William Adams, who became a close advisor to the Shogun, and known in Japan as Anjin. However, John Adams became such a highly regarded 'foreigner' within the shogun's court. A picture in the gallery is a print of the Tokugawa's Red Seal ships based on the navigators own ship, and a period print of Richard Adams being presented to the shogun, alongside a contemporary map of Japan as it was detailed on European maps in the early 1600's.

William Adams English navigator, also known in Japan as Miura Anjin, was born in 1564 in Gillingham England
(born 1564, Gillingham, Kent, England—died May 26, 1620, in Hirado, Japan), he was a navigator, merchant-adventurer, and the first Englishman to visit Japan.

At the age of 12 Adams was apprenticed to a shipbuilder in the merchant marine, and in 1588 he was master of a supply ship for the British navy during the invasion of the Spanish Armada. Soon after the British victory, he began serving as a pilot and ship’s master for a company of Barbary merchants. In June 1598 he shipped out as pilot major with five Dutch ships bound from Europe for the East Indies (present-day Indonesia) via the Strait of Magellan. The trouble-ridden fleet was scattered by storms, and in April 1600 Adams’s ship, the Liefde (“Charity”), its crew sick and dying, anchored off the island of Kyushu in southern Japan, the first northern European ship to reach that country.

Adams and the other survivors were summoned to Osaka, where Tokugawa Ieyasu—soon to become the shogun of Japan—interrogated mainly Adams about a variety of political, religious, and technological topics. Ieyasu was so impressed with Adams’s knowledge, especially of ships and shipbuilding, that he made the Englishman one of his confidants. Adams was given the rank of hatamoto (“bannerman”), a retainer to the shogun, and was awarded an estate at Miura, on the Miura Peninsula south of Edo (now Tokyo). Despite those honours, in the early years of his sojourn Adams repeatedly expressed his desire to return to England (where he had a wife and family, whom he eventually was able to continue to support) but was refused permission. He thus became permanently settled in Japan, married a Japanese woman, and came to be known by the name Anjin (“Pilot and Navigator later called Miura Anjin.

Adams oversaw the construction of Western-style ships, wrote letters on behalf of the shogun encouraging Dutch and English traders to come to Japan, and then officiated between the shogunate and the traders who began visiting the country. In 1613 he helped to establish an English factory (trading post) for the East India Company at Hirado, in Kyushu northwest of Nagasaki. Adams was allowed to undertake several overseas voyages between 1614 and 1619, traveling as far as Southeast Asia. His name is still revered in Japan with a district of his estate still bearing his name and his story is detailed in the magnificent epic book and film Shogun by James Clavell.  read more

Code: 26216

A Superb Original Zulu War Souvenir of a Knopkerrie Staff of an Induna High Ranking Zulu. His Symbol of Authority, Prestige, and Status. Another Induna's Example Was Taken By Lt Bromhead At Rorke's Drift, Now In The Regimental Museum

In 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War, a Zulu chief or high-ranking induna carried a long knobkerrie (iwisa) not merely as a weapon, but as a symbol of authority, prestige, and status.

While ordinary warriors used knobkerries for close-quarters combat—designed to crush skulls, often proving more effective than spears in tight fighting—a chief's knobkerrie was frequently a highly refined, ornate staff. Or the large Knop {head} type

Carved from extremely dense, heavy, indigenous hardwood root to create a beautiful, dark, polished patina over years of use.

Often features a perfectly spherical or slightly flattened knob at the end of a long, thin handle, occasionally adorned with complex geometric or zig-zag carvings at the grip.
High-ranking examples were sometimes adorned with intricate, fine copper or iron wire binding, indicating the status of the owner.
It was a "prestige object" handled daily, representing the bearer’s power to command.

Another induna's wooden staff of Zulu War origin, in the regimental museum, is described as being ‘taken’ by Major Gonville Bromhead, 24th Regiment, at the Battle of Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War, 1879, South Africa.

Later presented to Henry Germain Mainwaring, 24th Regiment
Physical description Staff carved from dark brown wood with two polished heads at the top
and a hand-grip featuring a raised decorative pattern (amasumpa).

Above and beneath the hand-grip the staff is inscribed:
'From Major G. Bromhead / XXIV / To / H.G. Mainwaring / XXIV / Taken at the / Attack /
on / Rorke's Drift / 22nd Jan / 1879'. Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh, Brecon

51 inches long  read more

Code: 26215

A ‘Special Offer’ Pair, A Single Fired Musket Ball & Single Musket Flint From The Waterloo Battlefield Site During the Construction of the Waterloo Mound in the 1820’s

From the field of the 1815 Battle of Waterloo, during a Grand Tour at the building of the Waterloo mound, a huge lion monument at the battle site of Waterloo, in honour of the Prince of Orange. A collection 20 assorted musket flints and pistol and musket balls recovered from Waterloo, offered by us as a matched pair of one ball and one flint at a time. Originally purchased by the nobility from the peasant excavators in Belgium, while building the Prince of Orange's Waterloo Mound at the battlefield in the 1820's, and acquired by us from their descendants as a collection of 20. From part of our antiquities and curiosities acquired from a circa 1820's Grand Tour classical collection from Europe and the Middle East. Such as Agincout, Poitiers, Crecy, Waterloo, Philippi, and following Alexander's campaign trail of his conquests then part of the Ottoman Empire. We have been purchasing piecemeal from the same family for around 20 years, military items and artefacts from the family's forebears Grand Tour in the early 19th century.

We are offering them as two fabulous souvenirs of the famous Duke of Wellington's victory over France and Napoleon, a matched pair, one flint and one ball.
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday, 18 June 1815, near Waterloo in Belgium, part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands at the time. A French army under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated by two of the armies of the Seventh Coalition, a British-led coalition consisting of units from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Hanover, Brunswick, and Nassau, under the command of the Duke of Wellington, referred to by many authors as the Anglo-allied army or Wellington's army, and a Prussian army under the command of Field Marshal von Blücher, referred to also as Blücher's army. The battle marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The battle was contemporaneously known as the Battle of Mont Saint-Jean or La Belle Alliance (the beautiful alliance).
Waterloo was the decisive engagement of the Waterloo Campaign and Napoleon's last. According to Wellington, the battle was "the nearest-run thing you ever saw in your life". Napoleon abdicated four days later, and coalition forces entered Paris on 7 July. The defeat at Waterloo ended Napoleon's rule as Emperor of the French and marked the end of his Hundred Days return from exile. This ended the First French Empire and set a chronological milestone between serial European wars and decades of relative peace, often referred to as the Pax Britannica. The battlefield is located in the Belgian municipalities of Braine-l'Alleud and Lasne, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Brussels, and about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the town of Waterloo. The site of the battlefield today is dominated by the monument of the Lion's Mound, a large artificial hill constructed from earth taken from the battlefield itself; the topography of the battlefield near the mound has not been preserved. Photo is of ten of our twelve pairs

THE HOME OF ORIGINAL AND AFFORDABLE ANCIENT ANTIQUITIES & ANTIQUE COLLECTABLES IN BRITAIN.

The Lanes Armoury, world renown as Britain's favourite specialist collectors shop, and also a font of historical and educational information that is detailed with every single item. We detail each piece alongside its historical context, either generic or specific, for those that may wish to read, learn, or be informed, as opposed to simply acquire collectable items. It is probably one of the oldest companies of our kind in the whole of Europe and we have been established through generations, as specialists in armoury antiques, militaria collectables, and specialist books, since the early 1900’s, and thus we have continued to be one of the largest in the world today. We are also very pleased to know we are also studied and read by academics and students from hundreds of universities around the world, by those that are interested in not only British but worldwide history.
For this reason we also like to be known as a learning and researching website.
Everyday we are contacted by historians that wish to make contributions to our detailed information for our pieces, and to thus add to our constant dedication to impart historical knowledge, that may be unknown to many of our millions of viewers.

As with all our items it comes complete with our certificate of authenticity.  read more

Code: 23946

A Very Fine & Historical, Original, 1870's Zulu Warrior's Southern African Stabbing Spear, An Iklwa With Telegraph Wire Binding. A Typical Officer's Souvenir of the Zulu War.

An original Zulu Iklwa spear with a long steel tapering blade. The collar of the blade haft is bound tightly with traditional telegraph wire of both forms brass and steel. Hardwood haft with the usual slightly swollen end. The Zulus would frequently cut down the British military telegraph wires, strip them, and create wirework decorative patterns on their spear and knopkerrie hafts. That is a most desirable and specifically historical feature of quality, when bound upon the spears and clubs, of the Zulu War period Zulu warriors. Very unusual to be beautifully bound of both types of telegraph wire.

The wirework is still beautifully intact and the native hardwood has a impeccable natural age patina.

As weapons, the Zulu warrior carried the iklwa stabbing spear (losing one could result in execution) and a club or cudgel fashioned from dense hardwood known in Zulu as the iwisa, usually called the knobkerrie in English, for beating an enemy in the manner of a mace. The Zulu King provided his warriors with shield's but the impi were required to supply their own weapons, following a general design principle but this was a relatively fluid principle.

Zulu officers often carried the Zulu Axe, but this weapon was more of a symbol to show their rank. The iklwa – so named because of the sucking sound it made when withdrawn from a human body – with its long and broad 10. inch blade it was an invention of King Shaka that superseded the older thrown ipapa (so named because of the "pa-pa" sound it made as it flew through the air). It could theoretically be used both in melee and as a thrown weapon, but warriors were forbidden in Shaka's day from throwing it, which would disarm them and give their opponents something to throw back. Moreover, Shaka felt it discouraged warriors from closing into hand to hand combat. Shaka's brother, and successor, Dingane reintroduced greater use of the throwing spear, perhaps as a counter to Boer firearms.

In 1875 the 1st Battalion of the 24th arrived in Southern Africa and subsequently saw service, along with the 2nd Battalion, in the 9th Xhosa War in 1878. In 1879 both battalions took part in the Zulu War, begun after a British invasion of Zululand, ruled by Cetshwayo. The 24th Foot took part in the crossing of the Buffalo River on 11 January, entering Zululand. The first engagement (and the most disastrous for the British) came at Isandhlwana. The British had pitched camp at Isandhlwana and not established any fortifications due to the sheer size of the force, the hard ground and a shortage of entrenching tools. The 24th Foot provided most of the British force and when the overall commander, Lord Chelmsford, split his forces on 22 January to search for the Zulus, the 1st Battalion (5 companies) and a company of the 2nd Battalion were left behind to guard the camp, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pulleine (CO of the 1/24th Foot).

The Zulus, 22,000 strong, attacked the camp and their sheer numbers overwhelmed the British. As the officers paced their men far too far apart to face the coming onslaught. During the battle Lieutenant-Colonel Pulleine ordered Lieutenants Coghill and Melvill to save the Queen's Colour—the Regimental Colour was located at Helpmakaar with G Company. The two Lieutenants attempted to escape by crossing the Buffalo River where the Colour fell and was lost downstream, later being recovered. Both officers were killed.

15 1/4 inch blade {including socket haft}. 50 inches long overall  read more

Code: 26214

A Simply Breathtaking and Spectacular O-Tanto By One Of The Shinto Period, Great, 'Best of the Best' Samurai Sword Smiths Dewa Daijo Fujiwara Kunimichi circa 1615, With Glorious & Fine Soten Gold Dragon Fuchigashira And A Tsurumaru O-Sukashi Tsuba

Dewa Daijo Kunimichi is considered to be among the “best of the best” (jo-jo saku) of the Shinto period. Dewa Daijo Fujiwara Kunimichi (出羽大掾藤原国路) was a prominent early Edo period swordsmith (1615–1658) in Kyoto and a top student of the Horikawa Kunihiro school. His works, including O-tanto and wakizashi, are highly regarded as Jō-jō-saku (above superior) and Wazamono (excellent cutting ability).

Superb original Edo Soten school fuchigashira of pure gold takebori dragon over shakudo nanako ground. Gold menuki of Takeda Shingen's clan of four diamond mon. Another clan symbol of Takeda were pairs of cranes {Tsuru}, heads bowing, symbolically represented in this sword by the O-Sukashi tsuba. Descendants of the Takeda Shingens clan would take prominent positions in the Tokugawa shogunate, established in 1603 The Matsumae clan (松前氏, Matsumae-shi) was a Japanese aristocratic family of the Takeda, bearing the four diamond mon, who were daimyo of the Matsumae Domain, now in Matsumae, Hokkaido, from the Azuchi–Momoyama period until the Meiji Restoration. They were given the march as their fiefdom in 1590 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and charged with defending it, and by extension the whole of Japan, from the Ainu "barbarians" of the north. They were descendants of Takeda Nobuhiro (1431-1494), son of Takeda Nobukata (1420-1471) of the Aki Takeda.

Takeda Shingen (武田 信玄, December 1, 1521 – May 13, 1573) was daimyo lord of Kai Province during the Sengoku period of Japan. Known as the "Tiger of Kai", he was one of the most powerful daimyo of the late Sengoku period, and credited with exceptional military prestige. Shingen was based in a poor area with little arable land and no access to the sea, but he became one of Japan's leading daimyo. His skills are highly esteemed and on par with Mōri Motonari. To bear the gold mon of the clan of Takeda Shingen indicates a descendant clan member of the highest rank. Tokugawa Ieyasu recognized the skill of Takeda troops and samurai, integrating many into his own army. The Hachiōji sen'nin-dōshin, a group of 1,000 former Takeda retainers, served the Tokugawa shogunate as defenders of Kai Province until the Meiji Restoration.
Legacy and Legitimacy: Ieyasu even claimed to be the "spiritual successor" to Takeda Shingen to gain loyalty in the former Takeda territories.
While the main Kai-Takeda line ended, minor, cadet branches of the Takeda family survived and continued into the Edo period

The complex hamon, typical of his work, and the blade condition is incredible and looks amazing, and it would be perfectly at home in the King's Royal Collection. This tanto is at present reserved.

Mid brown ishime stone finish saya, wonderfully crafted by a master of the craft, with black urushi ribbing at the top section, and gold tsukaito over gold Takeda clan menuki, set upon traditional samegawa giant rayskin. All of these amazing quality features are a joy to behold. Making the entire sword of museum quality and a piece to treasure and admire for generations to come.

This blade signed by Dewa Daijo Fujiwara Kunimichi (出羽大掾藤原国路), who was especially active during the the Genna-Meireki era (1615-1658: Early Edo period) in Yamashiro province (today’s Kyoto prefecture).
It is said that Kunimichi originally belonged to Mishina school at the beginning of his career and later started to serve Horikawa Kunihiro school. He also signed Heianjo Kunimichi (平安城国道), Heianjo Jyu Kunimichi (平安城住国路), Dewa Daijo Fujiwara Rai Kunimichi (出羽大掾藤原来国路).

He was born in the 4th year of the Tensho era (1576: Azuchi Momoyama period). Based on available records, he started to officially appear in Japanese sword history in the 13th year of the Keisho era (1608: The beginning of the Edo period).
He first signed Kunimichi (国道). As you can see, the letter of Michi is different from the one seen on this blade. Those who belonged to Mishina (三品) school used Michi (道) as their maker’s names, such as Iga no Kami Kimichi (伊賀守金道). That is why it is believed that Kunimichi originally belonged to Mishina school. Also, at the end of his career, he used Rai (来) in his maker’s name, which is the only characteristic of the swordsmiths who belonged to Mishina school back then.

This is an iron tsuba (Japanese sword guard) "Tsurumaru" or crane circle, featuring a four crane sukashi (openwork) design. The crane is a deeply significant motif in Japanese culture, representing longevity, purity, and good fortune.
The design depicts four cranes arranged symmetrically. In Japanese art, cranes are often portrayed as "dancing" or in flight, symbolizing high status and refined elegance. The style emphasizes wabi-sabi—simple, elegant, and sophisticated aesthetics popular with the samurai class, with a delicate, "positive silhouette" (positive, or ji-sukashi) that is characteristic of the Kyoto school.
Sukashi, this technique involves cutting away sections of the iron plate to create negative space. This not only adds aesthetic beauty but also lightens the guard to balance the sword’s weight.
While similar designs are found across several schools, this style—with its balance of openwork and strong iron lines—is characteristic of Kyo-Sukashi (Kyoto) or Owari schools from the Edo period (1603–1868).
It is a maru-gata (circular) tsuba, which was the most prevalent form for centuries.

Nanako Ji: "fish roe ground" A surface decoration produced by forming very small raised bosses by a sharply struck punch or burin called 'nanako tagane'. Shakudo is the metal most often used, but copper and gold are quite often employed. The harder metals, shibuichi, silver and iron are rarely decorated in this way. The size of the dots vary from 0.04" to 0.008" (25 to 125 and inch) and the regularity of the work is marvelous as the dots must be spaced entirely by touch. The dots are usually arranged in straight lines or in lines parallel to the edge of the piece being decorated, but sometimes in more elaborate patterns. Used on guards since the Momoyama period although the technique existed since much earlier periods. Usually done by specialist 'nanako-shi', but sometimes done by the maker of the guard himself.

Shakudo is a billon of gold and copper (typically 4-10% gold, 96-90% copper) which can be treated to form an indigo/black patina resembling lacquer. Unpatinated shakudo Visually resembles bronze; the dark color is induced by applying and heating rokusho, a special patination formula.

Both of these features are stunningly represented on the Soten fuchi kashira. There’s fittings are without doubt, in our opinion, first division Soten school fittings, decorated in pure hammered gold embellished solid shakudo mounts. Soten, alongside Goto, are the two great Japanese schools of sword fittings. The original design of these fittings, were by renowned artisan Mogarashi Nyudo Soten, a master craftsman from Hikone in Goshu Province.  read more

Code: 26211

A Superb Zulu War Zulu Chiefs Knopkerrie Staff, With Entwined Serpent, Identical to King Chetwayo's Staff, It was the British Museum Since 1963. A Typical Senior British Officer's Souvenir of the Zulu War.

Chetswayo's staff is now in the National Army Museum

Although it is typical for officers that commanded their men in the Zulu War of 1879 to return to England with souvenirs such as this beauty, this is absolutely not a typical example. The serpent entwined knopkerrie staff is incredibly rare, and this is an exceptionally rare Zulu War artefact.

Chiefs were awarded the privilege to use the knopkerrie staff, but so few used the serpent entwined type.

Made of South African hardwood the knopkerrie long staff were permitted to be used by high ranking Zulu warrior veterans such as chiefs and kinglets, and as one can see that King Chetswayo had the same one it confirms just how rare the serpent entwined version really is.

This is a stunning example with breathtaking natural age patina and in superb condition.

King Cetshwayo was the last Zulu King. At the time British people spelt the name Cetewayo, but nowadays it is more likely to be Cetshwayo, closer to the actual pronunciation. After a long and brave fight by the Zulu army, the King was captured after the battle of Ulundi in 1879 by Major Richard J.C. Marter of the Kings Dragoon Guards. Colonel Harford described the moment King Cetewayo gave himself up – “the King …strode in with the aid of his long stick, with a proud and dignified air and grace, looking a magnificent specimen of his race and every inch a warrior in his grand umutcha of leopard skin and tails, with lion’s teeth and claw charms round his neck”.

In 1882, Mr F.C. Lucy took a collection of these valuable items back to Britain after a trip to South Africa. The list was long and included Cetewayo’s knopkerrie walking stick, 13 throwing and stabbing assagais (light spears), 3 knobkerries (clubs), clothing with bead work, 2 Kaffir pipes and 2 Zulu pipes, as well as a number of natural history objects.

These were donated to the Banff Museum by Mr Lucy of London, via his mother-in-law Mrs Ewing, who lived in St Catherine Street. The walking stick is listed as being in the museum in 1919 (Banff and District by A. Edward Mahood). After this it is difficult to track what happened to Cetewayo’s stick until it turns up in the British Museum in 1963 {see their photograph of his knopkerrie walking stick}. It is there listed as being previously owned by Cetshwayo kaMpande, Banff Museum, and from the collection of Captain A.W.F. Fuller.

As one can see, this knopkerrie stick is near identical to Chetswayo's knopkerrie walking staff, that is shown in photo 4, photo 2 is an original photo portrait of King Chetswayo

34 1/5 inches long overall  read more

Code: 26212

A Great Looking Original MK1-11 Martini Henry ' Short Lever' Mid 1870's Issue, From The Zulu War Period With Superb Steel & Stock Patina. One of Only 1400 Ever Manufactured. The Most Famous Victorian Service Rifle Ever Issued. Zulu War Collection.

Original Antique MK I-II Antique Short Lever Martini Henry, with large cocking indicator, one of the first 1400 only ever made, between 1871 to 1876, all the others subsequently were MKIIs, from 1876, then MKIIIs and finally MKIVs. The gun has really good stock patina, and great steel condition, with barely negligible {if any} traces of corrosion anywhere. Numerous inspection stamps throughout the rifle, upon the barrel, action, trigger guard. With two Board of Ordnance Broad Arrow roundel stamps upon the buttstock. One original earlier {not readable} beneath a clearer second partly readable for empire service. Traces of VR Crown stamp to the lock, with broad arrow and I I {off centre} below.

Only about 1400 MK I’s were made and in 1877 they were replaced by the MK II which incorporated several design improvements learned from the MK I. Meanwhile before the MKIIs were issued the early original surviving MK I’s were factory
converted to the MK II. When converted to the MK II, an additional “I” was added to the
receiver markings, which resulted in the marking being skewed to the right of centre, just as this Martini-Henry has, and often each of the two ‘I I’ stamps can be of slightly differing sizes, whereas rifles made originally, from 1876, as a MK II issue would have this marking centered and of equal size.

The stock looks as good as the very best quality walnut stock can be, after it was used by a front rank regiment for several decades.

Returning from professional hand conservation Fully actionable and a superbly tight mechanism.

The most desirable Martini Henry are the MK I's and the MKI-II's, The very types of Martini short Lever rifle as were used by the 24th Foot at Ishandwhana and Rorke's Drift, and then later in the Afghan War and several conflicts against the Mahdi in the Sudan. They were even also used up to WW1 by some colonial regiments. This is a very fine early original ordnance contract example, best line regiment issue

This rifle was made at one of the ordnance arms workshops and is a truly exceptional and beautiful example, and in very good operational order indeed with an excellent action, but clearly combat used.

The Martini Henry, .450 577 rifle was most famous British Infantry breech loading rifle of the 19th century. This rifle is just as were used in the film ZULU, and the exact model type as was used during the Zulu War, a much superior condition stunning example.

The Martini-Henry breech-loading rifle, firing
cartridges, was the primary British infantry weapon during the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War, crucial at battles like Rorke's Drift. While capable of 12–20 rounds per minute, it suffered from overheating and jamming due to gunpowder residue, leading to severe recoil and performance issues in sustained, close-range combat.
Key Aspects of the Martini-Henry in the Zulu War
Weapon Specifications: The Mark II was the most common model used alongside with the earlier issue, rare, MK I-II, featuring a short lever-action breech block and often a 25-inch socket bayonet essential for melee.The rifle was accurate and long-ranged, but produced heavy smoke. Continuous firing caused excessive heating and fouling, forcing soldiers to use cleaning rods to dislodge stuck, fired cartridges.

At Rorke's Drift, disciplined volleys from the Martini-Henry enabled a small force to hold off large Zulu numbers. However, ammunition shortages and jamming issues contributed to the disaster at Isandlwana.
Soldiers were often only issued 70 rounds, which was insufficient during sustained Zulu attacks.
Bayonet Use: The long bayonet was crucial, as the rifle was 4ft 9in long, giving soldiers a vital range advantage in close-quarters fighting.

The weapon was well-regarded for its power but required careful maintenance, which was difficult during the heat of the conflict

This Martini-Henry, that dates to around 1875, was the breech-loading lever-actuated rifle adopted by the British, combining an action worked on by Friedrich von Martini (based on the Peabody rifle developed by Henry Peabody), with the rifled barrel designed by Scotsman, Alexander Henry. It first entered service in 1871 replacing the Snider-Enfield, and variants were used throughout the British Empire for 30 years. It was the first British service rifle that was a true breech-loading rifle using metallic cartridges.
During the Martini-Henry period in service, the British army were involved in a large number of colonial wars, most notably the Anglo-Zulu War.

The Martini Henry, 450-577, Short Lever, MK I converted MK II or the regular MK II rifle was the type used by the company of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot present at Rorke's Drift during the eponymous battle. The MK I originally had a small design fault in that the actions hinge pin was initially made of brass, which was too soft for continual use. The rare and early MKI's were thus converted by removing this pin, replacing it with a steel pin, and then redesignated the MKI-II.

The Martini Henry were later used throughout the British Empire, as this one clearly was as well. In fact the Martini Henry was such a good rifle many survived to be used in WW1 by some colonial regiments.

This great rifle, after its front rank line regimental service use, was taken out of regular infantry service, around 25 years after its first issue, and transferred to such as the Canadian, British Columbia penal service in Vancouver, whereupon the barrel was internally bored out and was increased {in 1903} by 0.026 of an inch, in order to accept the larger ball I.P. cartridges. The price of this beauty reflects that internal adaption in order to extend its useful service issue life within the empire. Externally however, the gun looks exactly as it did during its front rank service in the Zulu War era of 1879, and is in superbly actionable condition.

The lock plate bears the offset MK I I stamp beneath the ordnance broad arrow, plus the VR and large crown, worn, but still identifiable.

As with all our original antique arms, no licence is required to own, purchase or to collect anything of that description we sell. They, and all of these long guns, are entirely unrestricted to own, collect, and display just as they are, however, we are only permitted to sell to those who are over 18 of age with suitable I.d.  read more

Code: 26198

A Superb, Late 18th Century Napoleonic Wars Volunteer Jäger Officer’s Rifle. With Finest Walnut Stock And High Quality Mounts, Fine Quality Rifled Barrel of Approx .75 Inch Bore. The Rifle Purchased & Issued By The Army Before The Baker Rifle Was Produced

This beauty is likely the best, and best value, original rifle {with ordnance crown inspection stamp} used by the British Army, under the command of The Duke of Wellington, during the Napoleonic Wars. The latest of just three 60th Rifles service Jägers we have be privileged to acquire in the past 15 years.

Fine walnut full stock, in great polish, with King George IIIrd crown stamp on the inner butt box slide, and carved rifle cheek-piece. Sighted barrel, with the with traditional wooden Jägers patch box, and very finely engraved brass mounts, traditional rifle trigger guard and the butt plate is numbered 4, it has its original rifle ramrod with carved bone end to match the carved bone forend. Superb set trigger action conversion to percussion, in its working life in order to extend its use, and enable its use in foul weather.

An original Napoleonic & Anglo-French wars period issue Officer’s grade rifle, used by an officer of the 60th Regiment, and the predecessor rifle to the world renown Baker Rifle, that was itself a Jager rifle copy, that was issued to the 95th. Another remarkable thing about this rifle is that is a little more than half the cost today of its equivalent, yet more well known successor, a regulation issue Baker Rifle. This is due to the fact it does not quite have the fame as associated with the Baker Rifle of the 95th Rifles, much due to the wonderful modern book and film series penned by Bernard Cornwall, ‘Sharp of the 95th’ etc.

These Austro-Prussian made rifles, used by the 60th Rifles Regt. Volunteers, are referred to in British Military Firearms 1650 to 1850 by Howard Blackmore. As Assistant Keeper of Arms at the Tower of London, Howard, personally showed Mark three such identical examples, used by the 60th Rifles, that were in the Tower Collection, around 50 years ago.

The story of the earliest British rifle regiment goes as follows; at the end of 1797 - the year in which the Duke of York became colonel in-chief -of the 60th, it was decided to increase British forces in America, and an Act of Parliament was passed authorizing the Crown "to augment His Majesty's 60th Regiment of Infantry by the addition of a Fifth Battalion," to serve in America only, and to consist of foreigners.

“De Rottenburg organized his new battalion entirely for the special duties of ‘Riflemen.’ They were to be the ‘eyes of the army.’ He instituted a perfect system of drill for riflemen, and out-post duties; this system he printed in a book, which was afterwards embodied in the book of ‘Field Exercise and Evolutions of the Army,’ with a complimentary order by the Duke of York, then Commander-in-Chief.

This battalion, the first green-coated rifle battalion in the Army, was organized under the command of Lieut-Colonel Baron de Rottenburg, of Hompesch's Corps. It was formed of 17 officers and 300 men from Hompesch's Chasseurs, and was dressed in bottle-green cut-away coats with scarlet facings, white waistcoats, blue pantaloons, with black leather helmets and black belts. They were armed, at first, with inferior 'contract' rifles imported from Germany, but after those were rejected this better type was chosen. This fifth or "Jager" battalion served in Ireland in 1798 during the Rebellion, and then proceeded to the West Indies, where, in June, 1799, it received 33 officers and 600 men from Lowenstein's Chasseurs, another regiment of foreigners, at the capture of Surinam in 1791 and afterwards in South and North America.
In 1804 an Act was passed authorizing 10,000 foreign troops to serve in England, and the 5th Battalion was brought home in consequence in 1806. It went to Portugal in June, 1808, and from the opening skirmish at Obidos, on 15th August, two days before the battle of Roleia or Rolica down to the end of the war, took part in Wellington's campaigns in Portugal, Spain and the South of France.
This rifle was used prior to and during the Napoleonic Wars, the Peninsular War, the War of 1812 in America, and in the period of War of the 100 Days at Waterloo. The men in Hompesch’s British rifle corps were of all nations, except English and French and four hundred of the ‘Mounted Riflemen’ formed the nucleus of the new battalion, but they were chiefly Germans, and in Germany Rottenberg placed recruiting officers for the purpose of raising men for Britain's 60th.". "The battalion thus formed was the original of those battalions now so well known, and so distinguished in every sense of the word, as ‘Riflemen.’
The men were dressed and equipped as Jägers. They were armed with rifles, and carried what were called ‘rifle bags’ made of leather, instead of knapsacks; they grew the moustache, and they were dressed in green. In this particular they claim priority, in time, to all other battalions in the British army….” A superbly effective rifle, and a super and fine historical example, with the traditional German style patch box in wood as opposed to the Baker's brass version. A very fine walnut stock, brass furniture, including large ramrod pipes, heavy steel ramrod. Superb tight and crisp action. 30 inch rifled octagonal barrel, 45.5 inches long overall. “The men in Hompesch’s British rifle corps were of all nations, except English and French and four hundred of the ‘Mounted Riflemen’ formed the nucleus of the new battalion, but they were chiefly Germans, and in Germany De Rottenberg placed recruiting officers for the purpose of raising men for Britain's 60th.". "The battalion thus formed was the original of those battalions now so well known, and so distinguished in every sense of the word, as ‘Riflemen.’ The men were dressed and equipped as Jägers. They were armed with rifles, and carried what were called ‘rifle bags’ made of leather, instead of knapsacks; they grew the moustache, and they were dressed in green. In this particular they claim priority, in time, to all other battalions in the British army….” On our previous example, we had a few years ago, it still had inside the patch box, its original hand written label circa 1800, in part English and German, that gave what we believed to be the name of the rifleman 'Kluge' that used it, it's calibre, the gun's number 157, promise right of supply, and notes on it's accuracy at 100 ,150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600 & 700. We can enclose with our compliments a copy photo of that list, in our previous Jager rifle of the 60th, just to show to the new owner of this rifle, what it once may also have had stuck within the patch box lid. Before the standard Baker rifle, which was a near direct copy of this Jäger rifle, replaced the Jäger rifles, this was the rifle acquired by England from Prussia, by the British ordnance, and was issued to the earliest British rifle regiment the 60th, formed in the late 18th century. They were then used in America and Ireland, and then in Spain, Portugal & France

The riflemen were the first to fight the French at Obidos on Aug. 15, and then again played a leading role in the Battle of Roliça two days later.

Following Roliça, Wellesley decided to take five companies of the 5/60th and place them in each of the other brigades. This would strengthen the light companies of the battalions in those brigades and give them some rifle-armed troops. The decision was quickly vindicated by the 5/60th’s performance at the Battle of Vimeiro on Aug. 21. Not only did the five companies that were still brigaded with the 95th help defeat an attack on Wellesley’s centre, but the detached companies were present wherever the French attacked.

They also quickly gained a reputation for targeting French officers. Charles Leslie of the 29th Foot wrote:

“In this battle the 60th Riflemen, who were all Germans, showed great tact in taking advantage of the ground and dexterity in the use of their arms. General Fane, who commanded the light troops, observing one of these men successfully hit one or two French officers who were gallantly exposing themselves in front leading on their men, exclaimed in the excitement of the moment, ‘Well done, my fine fellow! I will give you half a doubloon for every other one you bring down.’ The man coolly loaded again, fired, and hit another, then looking at the General, he said gravely, ‘By Got, I vill make my vortune’.”

This rifle is a superb piece, in fabulous condition in all parts, walnut brass and steel. The action is as tight as a drum. And the walnut patina is a beautiful golden brown.

In the picture in the gallery there is a photograph of a 60th Rifleman next to a 95th in the Peninsular War. And another photograph we show is of another 60th rifles rifle patch box lid that we had on another Jager rifle of the 60th, some years ago, and on that rifle, affixed on that patch box lid, were written his site windage adjustments. Note the photo in the gallery of the 60th Rifleman's patch box lid inner side on our past 60th Jäger Rifle, {not of this rifle}.
We noticed inside this rifles patchbox lid, a feint, GR crown military inspection stamp.
As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables

Every item is accompanied with our unique, Certificate of Authenticity. Of course any certificate of authenticity, given by even the best specialist dealers, in any field, all around the world, is simply a piece of paper,…however, ours is backed up with the fact we are the largest dealers of our kind in the world, with over 100 years and four generation’s of professional trading experience behind us  read more

Code: 24769